Cité du Vin

The Cité du Vin is a museum of wine that opened in 2016 on the banks of the Garonne, in the Bacalan district north of the centre of Bordeaux, and it has become one of the city's best-known modern landmarks. Its architecture is part of the attraction: a swirling, curving building of glass and metal designed by the architects Anouk Legendre and Nicolas Desmazières, intended to evoke the movement of wine in a glass, the vine's tendrils and the eddies of the river nearby. Its golden, shimmering surface changes with the light, and its tower of about fifty metres is visible from afar. It is easy to reach by tram, and the area around it has been transformed from old docks into a district of new housing and promenades.

The museum is not a traditional collection of objects but an interactive journey through the world of wine. The permanent exhibition fills several floors and is divided into themed areas, with immersive installations, films, sounds, smells and touch screens that invite visitors to explore different aspects of wine: how vines grow, how wine is made, the history of wine in civilisations from antiquity to today, the role of wine in art, religion and daily life, and the different wine regions of the world. You are given a hand-held guide that adapts to your language, and you move at your own pace. One of the features is a series of scent stations that let you identify aromas, an approach that helps explain the language of wine tasting.

Bordeaux is the natural place for such a museum. The city and its region, with vineyards such as the Médoc, Saint-Émilion, Pomerol and Sauternes, have produced some of the most prestigious wines in the world for centuries, and the wine trade has shaped the city's fortunes since the Middle Ages, when English merchants shipped claret from its port. The museum puts this local story in a global context, comparing the traditions of France with those of Italy, Spain, Georgia, California, Australia and other wine-producing countries.

The visit ends at the top. A belvédère on the eighth floor offers a panoramic view over the river, the city and the old docks, and visitors receive a glass of wine to enjoy while looking at the view. The tasting is a single small glass chosen from a selection of wines from different countries, and a workshop or wine bar on site offers further tastings and a restaurant. The building also houses a shop and a space for temporary exhibitions and events.

Plan on two to three hours for a full visit. It is wise to book tickets online in advance, especially in summer, and to check the opening hours, which vary by season, with longer days in summer. The museum suits wine enthusiasts, families with older children and anyone interested in design. It is close to the Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas, a lift bridge over the river, and the former submarine base, now an arts centre. The Place de la Bourse and the old town are a short tram ride away, and a boat trip along the river is a pleasant way to see the district.